To build upon the Menominee approach to sustainable development, the Sustainable Development Institute (SDI) was created under the umbrella of the College of the Menominee Nation in 1993. SDI's mission is to reflect upon and forward the achievements of the Menominee in sustainable forestry and to extend that model to other sectors of the economy. The Sustainable Development Institute views sustainable development as a process by which Menominee affinity to place balances six dimensions of community life.
Higher Education is vital to the concept of sustainable development. A shortage exists of tribal members with advanced degrees to accommodate the needs of the Menominee Tribe. There is concern too, that traditional teachings which reinforce the link between people and the environment -- the same link that the Menominee respected in their struggle to maintain their forest -- maybe minimized in today’s society. To meet that challenge College of Menominee offers an Associate degree program in sustainable development and provides a variety of professional development and research opportunities.